Does a child go missing in the United States every forty seconds?

A child left alone

The question of whether Madeleine McCann’s parents should have left their children alone while they dined nearby is being discussed by parents everywhere. Many in the U.S. are quick to suggest it is unconscionable, but children are left in cars here while parents run into stores on a regular basis. Since an abductor can typically travel by vehicle a mile a minute it arguably puts a child at greater risk.

Depending on where you live, it could result in criminal charges being filed. Eleven states have laws against leaving kids in cars, and seven have legislation pending. Four states make it a criminal offense if the child dies or is injured.

It is easy to pass judgment but it appears fortunately many people are separating their emotions from the fact a child is missing. Regardless of public opinion, her family has received support and assistance in their efforts to find her. So why doesn’t this happen in all missing children cases?

Last year a mother left her 2-year-old son alone in a park playing with a 4-year-old sibling. Elian Majano disappeared June 21, 2006 while playing in Irving, Texas’ Lively Park as his mother and a male friend sat inside a truck. He has never been found. There was even speculation he fell into a sinkhole but a body was never recovered.

In the disappearance of Elian Majano, his parents not only lost him but his brother was placed in the care of a relative by the State of Texas. The courts ruled they were unable to care for him.

There were no offers pouring in of million dollar rewards or celebrities making appeals on his behalf. The main story at the time seemed to be why the Irving Police chose to issue an Amber Alert since it didn’t meet all the criteria required.

Madeleine Mc Cann and her siblings should never have been left alone.
At 3 years of age anything can go wrong and as we have heard of all too often, just how quickly a child can disappear from your sight, it only takes seconds.
I think what people are forgetting is that madeleines twin siblings who are much younger were also left alone, and to suggest that checking on your children every half hour is enough is rediculous. My goodness how long were they gone.
This little girl put her whole faith in her parents to always protect her, and I know we are all capable of making a mistake, but I believe that you only have to be wrong once and make that mistake, and now this little girl is gone. I believe that we as parent have an obligation to make sure our children are safe at all times. I think of how scared she must be right now, and if and I really hope and pray that she is found safe and well, will she ever place her trust in her parents again.
Cathy

Madeline, aged 3, was left unattended with her TWO YOUNGER siblings! That isn’t a mistake, that’s gross negligence. They put all of their children in an extremely dangerous position for the sake of a nice quiet evening meal. They decided against the babysitting service on offer – “baby” being the operative word here.
Now the McCaan’s are middle class, Gerry, being a surgeon. Have the media given them an easy time because of this? I can’t help but think if this had been anyone else of lets say “less standing” in the community, the press would have crucified them for their BAD PARENTING.
They will have to live with the consequences of their actions for the rest of their lives, irrespective of whether Madeline is found or not. I pray that she is. I also hope the McCaans can find peace within themselves to go on and parent the two remaining children to the standard that every child deserves. Please don’t fail them, the way that you have Madeline.

I totally agree with all these parents, leaving a child alone is wrong, society has taught us from a young age that is wrong, why did the parent believe they were allowed to go on holiday and not be responsible for all who they took with them, did they even know this country, who takes children to a different country and not watches them all the time! No I do not think they deserve this, as a mother I’ll pray for her return. I also have to ask what about the many parents who did nothing wrong and had their children snatched and are not getting as much publicity, how they must feel?

Interestingly, many people defend the McCann’s by saying their not taking their children to a restaurant is not understood because of cultural difference. I could see that being true. Sometimes, we don’t take the kids because we want a quiet evening.

However, we always arrange a babysitter. If they wanted to vacation alone, why not leave the children with a relative? The Mrs and I are both students, so it can be tough affording a night out plus babysitter. In that case, we stay home and watch a movie. With the income of two medical professionals, I wonder what the problem was.

Come to think of it, medical professionals are supposed to watch for signs of neglect and abuse. I wonder if their licensing is questioned now. An OB/GYN physician should know all too well the dire results of leaving young children by themselves in a different room even when they are home.

Bottom line, they should know they were wrong, particularly because of their profession. Take the other children out of that harmful environment and get their licensing revoked. It is the only responsible thing to do. To Madeleine, may you find as much peace and comfort as possible by your horrible circumstance.

I was sent a FWD email about this missing child and my first thought was, “how unfortunate and horribly unfair that this little girl pay the ultimate price to teach the lesson that children should never, ever be left unattended for any length of time until a certain age. Of course, this age depends on the child. By the age of 7, I was quite self sufficient and was left alone for short periods of time, but this was 30 years ago and times seemed somewhat different then. I would say that on average, children under the age of 10 should be supervised by a competent caregiver under all circumstances. I think these parents are exploiting a cultural difference that for all intents and purposes lacks common sense. How they cannot at least address this publicly by apologizing to parents everywhere and the police forces funneling money into the search for their child is beyond me and as far as Im concerned, atrocious.

It is easy to judge isn’t it? when it is not your child who has gone missing. when it is not you who has to live with that regret for the rest of your life. It appears to me that people are getting somewhat lost as to what is important here. The fact is that children should not be allowed to stay alone or more so be left alone at any time (especially not at such a young age!) but unfortunately Maddie and her siblings were and this trategy accured. Isn’t the fact that she has gone more important than critisising her parents? isn’t finding her the most important thing? People have shown true compassion to her parents as well as a lot of hatred. All I care about is that she is found and finding out what actually happened. I think not knowing has got be the worst thing for all her family members. Maddie, I am thinking of you.